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13 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Underrated swashbuckler, better than it deserves to be, 11 September 2005 Author: lemon_magic from Wavy Wheat, Nebraska
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I'll admit right up front that 'Sword And The Sorceror' is NOT a good film or a classic one. It sets its sights too low for that. "S&S" just wants to be a good, cheesy, energetic adventure with lotsa Swords and Sorcery and even more "T&A". And in that sense, it is very successful. The lead, Lee Horslee, plays "Talon" with a wry awareness of the utterly derivative and crappy nature of the material, and he throws all subtlety to the winds and just goes for it. He smirks and swaggers and wades his way through a poor man's version of a Robert E. Howard epic, and looks as if he is having a lot of fun doing so. In fact, everyone here seems to be having a pretty good time, acting and Oscar Nominations be damned. And I think that is what makes the film pretty watchable even today.Several little touches help distinguish this film from your average 'hero avenges his family and wins the throne' movie. First of all is that infamous three bladed sword, of course. Second of all, "Talon" proves to be so doggoned tough that he manages to pull his hands off the stakes after he's been crucified. Geez, even Conan couldn't do that in HIS crucifixion scene! And thirdly, there's a wonderful moment when Talon's friend and sidekick makes a rousing speech to the rest of a motley crew urging them to come with him and attack the castle to rescue Talon. The actor (Joe Regalbuto,who went on to be in "Raw Deal" and "Murphy Brown") holds out the heft of a sheathed long sword. It's obvious that the script (or his improvisation) called for the rest of the gang to put their hands on the sword in a gesture of solidarity (kind of like an Eroll Flynn movie). But no one does that. They all just sit there and look at him. Poor Joe is left hanging, holding out the sword all by himself, for nearly 40 seconds. He looks like a total dork. It's an obvious miscue or misfire of some sort....BUT THE DIRECTOR KEPT THE TAKE!!! That's wonderful! My friends and I reran this scene at least twice more, laughing our selves silly at the sheer awkwardness of it. Since then, Albert Pyun has made a couple of decent films, several mediocre ones, and some real stinkers, but this little gem buys him a lot of good will as far as I'm concerned. Watch with an open mind, a tankard of ale in your hand, and a wench in a leather bikini at your feet, and you'll have a good time.
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Another Guilty Pleasure, 7 June 2002 Author: subcityii from Noth Hollywood, CA
The main reason this movie was even made was that they wanted it to be in theaters at around the same time as the film "Conan the Barbarian" in 1982. Believe it or not, both films were even released by the same studio! If the films had been made thirty years earlier, they would have been released as a double feature. They were part of a wave of sword fight pictures that included "Excalibur" and "Dragonslayer." Without a lot of fanfare, "Sword and the Sorcerer" managed to become a minor hit. One of the cast members was on a talk show and confessed that the success of the film was a surprise because that person thought it was not very good. I enjoyed the action scenes and some of the humor. It has some good one-liners. The second half also has generates a fair amount of tension concerning the whereabouts of the sorcerer mentioned in the title. I also liked how the forces came together randomly for the climatic battle scenes. True, the film has many flaws, but it still works for me as an enjoyable adventure. It is the kind of thing I watch on a Friday night to ease me into the weekend. Add me to the list of those disappointed that the sequel promised in the closing credits was never made.
13 out of 16 people found the following review useful: At last ... Worthwhile mindless entertainment!, 18 October 1999 Author: Louis Rugani (x779@webtv.net) from United States
What's not to like? A great balance among all the elements of what makes film fun. Lee Horsley resembles Errol Flynn, and Robert Tessier fills the screen and steals every scene, as always. Richard Lynch curls his lip a lot, the sneering Jay Robinson is on board, and the special effects don't interfere with the plot, as in today's SFX-o-ramas. Plenty of gorgeous gals in great costumes, and without great costumes. Shakespearean skullduggery abounds everywhere, buckles get swashed, and people walked out of the theatre saying "I thought they didn't know how to make them like that anymore." (Hey, wait a minute ... we're STILL saying that!) Highly recommended!
11 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Terrific entertainment!, 6 December 2000 Author: Louis Rugani (x779@webtv.net) from United States
This is a wonderfully well-done feature with top marks for its value in sheer fun. If you're not into fantasy, see this anyway as a great swashbuckler a la the Errol Flynn-as-hero genre. (And Lee Horsley even resembles Errol throughout this film, which I was fortunate enough to see theatrically at time of release.)There are terrific villains galore, rip-roaring adventure, great castles and dungeons, complicated skullduggery, and comeuppance aplenty, all done with delicate humor.This is great screen entertainment with a '40s-'50s look to it, and that's a compliment. There are no wasted moments. The fast-moving story relies much more on quality writing, acting and expert direction rather than copping out with the sort of elaborate special-effects that producers/directors of such films seem to lean on so heavily now, nearly two decades later.I think it's a classic, and a model, of its type.Highly recommended to all except small children.
17 out of 25 people found the following review useful: A RIP-ROARING FANTASY ADVENTURE., 26 September 1999 Author: ALAN MOUNT from CARDIFF, WALES
This movie which came out at around the same time as "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" is the better film. It is a rip-roaring fantasy adventure which has elements of Harryhausen's "SINBAD" and "JASON" movies,the graphic violence of "CONAN" and a precursor of the humour and dialogue which would permeate T.V's "HERCULES" and "XENA". Lee Horsley in a career best role plays the warrior hero Talon to perfection and it is a shame that the promised sequel never appeared.The action and fantasy elements are strongly brought to the fore by a superb and rousingly heroic score by David Whittaker which stands alone as a great piece of music in its own right.Director Albert Pyun has never bettered his work here and like everyone involved gives his all to fashion a brilliant slice of 'B' movie entertainment guaranteed to set the pulses racing of anyone,old or young,who ever thrilled to the sight and sounds of swords clashing.Whenever there are kingdoms to be saved,battles to be won and women to love let's hope that heroes like Talon will re-emerge on our screens to fight the good fight.All in all,"THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER" is a thoroughly enjoyable movie....9 out of 10.
11 out of 16 people found the following review useful: One Helluva fun flick!, 9 January 2001 Author: davidemartin (davidemartin@cs.com) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
When this one came out, Hollywood and the networks were shooting out Sword & Sorcery projects as fast as they could get made, hoping to cash in on Dungeons and Dragons game and the Conan flick. Well, aside from DRAGONSLAYER, SWORD AND THE SORCEROR is the best of them all. Where CONAN was bloated and self-important to the point of pomposity, this one is a fun ride with nary a slow moment. Even better, it actually has a plot that makes you think!Oh, have to disagree with one comment about half-naked women.... Kathleen Beller is COMPLETELY naked when Talon crashes into the harem, escaping the guards.
8 out of 11 people found the following review useful: A joy to watch again and again, 4 October 2001 Author: Steve Gough from Burmingem, England
"I have a debt to pay" ... for 15 years of viewing pleasure. This film is an absolute joy, untarnished by repeated viewings, sadly overshadowed by Schwarzeneger's vastly inferior Conan movies, and unreasonably critically trashed alongside truly terrible contemporary low budget thud and blunder efforts. The script creaks more than the plot, but reigned in from the curse of camp by director Albert Pyun the actors deliver their lines with a straight face and leave the the audience to find the comedy themselves. Almost a dictionary definition of "ahead of its time", the film is a blueprint for the success of Sam Raimi's Hercules and Xena, right down to the use of Australian bit players. Effects like the demon sorceror's tomb might be managed better technically today, but no more atmospherically, and the closing sword battle is a triumph. The performances are eccentric and electric, and you could not wish for a more motley crew of cut-throats and sidekicks. Richard Lynch eats the scenery with unalloyed zeal, and quite simply more of Lee Horsley as Talon would have made the movie world a better place.
7 out of 10 people found the following review useful: I liked it..., 2 July 1999 Author: Rob Paul from Glasgow, Scotland
Ah, this brings back the memories.This was one of the scariest movies I saw when I was young, and one of the best adventure/d&d movies. Some of the scenes were truly gruesome, especially the big monster bloke with the beating heart. I still remember grimacing as the hero puts his hand on the tree and one of the baddies fires an arrow into it, and when Talon is attached to the cross and has to pull his hands with big nails in them out. Ouch, that gave me the heebygeebees. Classic stuff for kids, although I nearly died with embarrasment (watching this beside my mum at the time) when Talon is being chased through the castle and crashes into the bedroom filled with beautiful bronzed naked women.9/10 as a kid, but the cast do know it's trash and ham it up for what it is.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Cutting the cheese..., 4 August 2006 Author: Frank Markland from United States
Lee Horsley (Easily the most likable barbarian warrior) stars as Talon a mercenary hired to save the brother of a rebel princess, the reward of course is one night with that said rebel princess and so armed with a spring loaded sword which shoots out (Also looks heavy as hell) Talon takes on Titus(Richard Lynch) the man who killed his father much sword and sorcery action takes place. I proclaimed in one of my reviews (That dealt with Albert Pyun) that I figured his best movie was Kickboxer 2 or Kickboxer 4, that is until I went and clicked on Albert Pyun's name and saw that he had gone and directed one of my childhood favorites. The Sword And Sorcerer is of course a rip off Conan The Barbarian but this one feels no less epic and Pyun's style seems appropriate provided he doesn't go crazy with his camera angles. He keeps it under control here and he brings a real sense of excitement to the action. Sword and Sorcerer is also helped by Horsley's performance which is build on humor, intelligence and charisma. Whatever to this guy? So even though Pyun did direct the movie this is still a must see and I think it is perfect for anyone who likes the Sword and Sorcery genre. Also there is tons of gore which I look at as very favorable.* * * out of 4-(Good)
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Awesome fantasy-trash!, 17 January 2007 Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls
The titular sword is indeed an inventive piece of fantasy-scenery, as it's a gigantic and three-bladed weapon that fires off daggers to kill the carrier's enemies from a distance. The sorcerer, however, is just a little bit of a disappointment since he – Xusia – only appears briefly in the film. The power mad Prince Cromwell summons this evil sorcerer to help him conquer the mighty kingdom of Ehdian, yet just before Cromwell takes over the throne, he destroys Xusia again. Talon, the youngest son of the present king of Ehdian, is the only royal heir to survive the bloodbath. Eleven years later he returns as a true warrior hero to lead the oppressed people of Ehdian in their revolt against the tyrant Cromwell. "The Sword and the Sorcerer" was Albert Pyun's debut as a director, and he immediately delivered a vivid and energetic fantasy tale! The film is clearly inspired by the success of Arnie's "Conan the Barbarian", but it contains enough original story elements and exciting special effects to be called a highlight of the fantasy-sub genre itself. The battle scenes are terrific, the decors are often breathtaking and the script contains a surprising amount of humorist situations. When Talon is captured and sentenced to death by crucifixion, his troops and friends (who until then spend their days inside a luxury brothel), decide to come to the rescue, yet in the next shot they're all imprisoned themselves. The film is quite violent and full of grisly images, most notably during one of the last swashbuckling scenes at the wedding banquet, where people's faces are cut in two and heads are crushed with large pieces of meat. Lee Horsley is an adequate hero, but the show is obviously stolen by the bad characters here! Richard Moll is excellent (and well-disguised) in his brief role as sorcerer Xusia and Richard Lynch is sensationally mean as the bastard Cromwell. His greed is so enormous that he invites all the rulers of nationhood kingdom at his wedding, only with the intention to kill them and take over their leadership. What a prick! And when he develops his little beard, he looks even more sardonic! The early 1980's were the absolute best years for fantasy-cinema. Nowadays, the genre reverts too much to computer animated graphics, like in, say, "The Lord of the Rings".
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